With various initiatives taken by the government, the Mid Day Meal Scheme for government school children is being implemented uninterrupted amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the situation emerged due to Covid-19 lockdown, various initiatives were taken to make MDM scheme more successful and result oriented by providing Food Security allowance (dry Rice and cooking cost) to the children.Under the same scheme, School Health Card programme has also been launched by Lieutenant Governor G.C. Murmu on March 6, 2020, to improve the health and overall well-being of over 12 lakh students enrolled in various government schools across the Union Territory.The distribution of these Health Cards has been initiated from today in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.Meanwhile, in view of the closure of the schools, dry Rice for two months was directly given to the children, while the cooking cost is being directly deposited in their bank accounts.To ensure uninterrupted benefits to the targeted lot, 5823 metric tonne food grain has been distributed among 8.29 lakh children for 60 days and equal amount of Rs 14.47 Cr @Rs. 4.97 per day per child for Primary and @ Rs. 7.45 for Upper Primary level children for one month (30 days) has been released by Mission Directorate Mid Day Meal, J&K. The same has been placed at the disposal of Chief Education Officers (CEOs) to be credited to the bank accounts of eligible children through DBT mode on or before May 20, 2020.Furthermore, it has been decided that Food security allowance would also be disbursed to students even during the approaching summer vacations as a part of Covid-19 Initiatives.Similarly, Grants amounting to Rs 6.66 Cr, on account of honorarium @ Rs. 1000 per month per Cook-Cum helper, has been released to districts and placed on the disposal of CEOs to disburse further in favour of 29987 Cook-Cum helpers.Likewise, an amount of Rs. 125.10 Cr has been released to CEOs for its payment to FCI for the 1st quarter 2020-21 on account of lifting of foodgrain during Covid-19.